PP16 A comparison of Australasian jurisdictional ambulance services’ paramedic clinical practice guidelines series: adult anaphylaxis

Background

This article forms part of a series that seeks to identify interjurisdictional differences in the scope of paramedic practice and, consequently, differences in patient treatment based on which jurisdiction a patient is geographically located within at the time of their complaint.

Method

The current Clinical Practice Guidelines of each Australasian domestic jurisdictional ambulance service (JAS) were accessed during June 2020 and updated in August 2021. Content was extracted and verified by 18 paramedics or managers representing all 10 JASs.

Results

All JASs use intramuscular adrenaline as a first-line agent for adult anaphylaxis. Beyond this, significant differences exist in all treatments: five services provide nebulised adrenaline; 10 services provide adrenaline infusions (one requires doctor approval; one provides repeat boluses); six services provide nebulised salbutamol; two services provide salbutamol infusions (one requires doctor approval; one provides repeat boluses); five services provide nebulised ipratropium bromide; eight services provide corticosteroids (two restricted to intensive care paramedics (ICPs)); five services provide antihistamines for non-anaphylactic or post-anaphylactic reactions; four services provide glucagon (one requires doctor approval); magnesium is infused by ICPs in two services; 10 services allow unassisted intubation in anaphylactic arrest; one service allows ICPs to provide sedation-facilitated intubation or ketamine-only breathing intubation; eight services allow rapid sequence induction (two restricted to specialist roles).

Conclusion

The JASs in Australasia have each created unique treatment clinical practice guidelines that are heterogeneous in their treatments and scopes of practice. A review of the evidence underlying each intervention is appropriate to determining best practice.

Paediatric Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests: An Epidemiological Study

Objective: To identify the epidemiological patterns of paediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) in Queensland, Australia and to investigate associations between patient variables and prehospital outcome.Methods: Included were paediatric (>4 days - 18 years) OHCA patients attended by paramedics in the state of Queensland (Australia) between January 2009 and December 2019. Patient and arrest characteristics were described. Factors associated with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) on hospital arrival were investigated.Results: A total of 1612 paediatric patients were included; 611 were deceased prior to paramedic arrival and 1001 received resuscitation attempts by paramedics. Approximately one quarter (26.8%) of resuscitation-attempted patients achieved ROSC on hospital arrival. Most arrests (49.7%) were due to medical causes. Arrests due to trauma had the lowest rate of ROSC on hospital arrival (9.6%), whereas those due to drug overdose had the highest rate (40%). Patients in rural areas had a lower rate of ROSC on hospital arrival than those in metropolitan areas (20.7% vs 32.5%, p < 0.001). The median response interval to all OHCA patients was 8 minutes. Trauma was considerably more prevalent in rural areas than in metropolitan areas, while all other aetiologies were comparable. Older paediatric age groups had higher rates of ROSC on hospital arrival than infants, particularly early adolescents (39.4% vs. 14.9%, p = 0.001). Aetiology, age, bystander witness, shockable initial rhythm, and geographic locality factors were independently associated with ROSC on hospital arrival.Conclusions: Approximately a quarter of paediatric prehospital OHCA achieved ROSC on hospital arrival. Prehospital outcome differs according to patient cohort and is associated with diverse patient demographic variables.

Adverse events from nitrate administration during right ventricular myocardial infarction: a systematic review protocol

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review will aim to summarize and evaluate the literature describing the evidence regarding adverse events from the administration of nitrates during right ventricular myocardial infarction.

INTRODUCTION

Withholding nitrates in the setting of right ventricular myocardial infarction is currently recommended by the American Heart Association, European Society of Cardiology, and in the Australian Journal of General Practice, due to the risk that decreasing preload in the setting of already compromised right ventricular ejection fraction may reduce cardiac output and precipitate hypotension or exacerbate cardiogenic shock. The original evidence from 1989 underpinning these recommendations displays methodological weaknesses including low sample size and confounding interventions. More recent and comprehensive research from 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2019 conflicts with the conclusions from the 1989 study, suggesting instead that nitrate administration during right ventricular myocardial infarction results in no significant difference in the rate of adverse events. The combination of recommended practice based on 30-year-old evidence and the emergence of recent challenging evidence suggest that this topic merits systematic review.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

The study will include both experimental and observational (descriptive and analytical) study designs that discuss the occurrence of adverse events from the administration of nitrates during a known right ventricular myocardial infarction.

METHODS

Six databases will be systematically searched: the Cochrane CENTRAL Register, PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE Complete, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Identified studies will be independently assessed for inclusion by two investigators using JBI critical appraisal tools. Data will be extracted for narrative and tabular synthesis.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER

PROSPERO CRD42020172839.

A Comparative Taxonomy of Australasian Paramedic Clinical Practice Guidelines

BackgroundThere are 10 state-run ambulance services in Australia and New Zealand, all of which are members of the Council of Ambulance Authorities (CAA). These CAA services use nine unique sets of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) to direct the care that their paramedics deliver to patients. Although there are many similarities in these guidelines there are also notable differences in both structure and content. This paper is a comparative analysis of these CAA CPGs that contrasts the differences in organisation and also discusses the similarities and differences between the various CPGs themselves. This comparison was done as a preparatory exercise for the creation of a set of national CPGs by Paramedics Australasia.MethodsThe complete set of CPGs were obtained and analysed. All CPGs intended for operational road paramedics were examined. These included extended care paramedic, retrieval and intensive/critical care paramedic CPGs, and first responders. The 10 tables of contents were synthesised into one document and then restructured into a unique taxonomy determined by consensus of the authors. The authors reviewed the taxonomy to ensure the organisation was consistent and logical. Each CPG was then reviewed to ensure that it was appropriately placed in the new taxonomy. The CAA CPGs were further examined for similarities and differences independently by each author according to a predefined list of characteristics. ResultsA new taxonomy for Australasian CPGs is presented with a discussion of various issues of interest that became apparent during the development of the taxonomy. This taxonomy can provide guidance in the creation of a unified set of CPGs that can be used as a reference for developers, educators, clinicians, researchers, managers and industry representatives interested in consulting and developing a clear statement of the scope and standards of Australasian paramedics. The comparative analysis could be of interest to developers of CAA CPGs, and others. ConclusionThis paper presents a novel taxonomy, or scheme of classification, that incorporates all CAA CPGs in preparation for the development of a uniform set of Australasian CPGs, which will be of use to various individuals and organisations.

The effect of evidence-based, treatment-oriented, clinical practice guidelines on improving patient care outcomes: a systematic review protocol

REVIEW QUESTION

The question that this systematic review aims to address is: does the use of evidence-based, treatment-oriented, clinical practice guidelines by healthcare professionals result in improvements in patient outcomes?

The impact of essential fatty acid, B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium and zinc supplementation on stress levels in women: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Women juggling multiple roles in our complex society are increasingly experiencing psychological stress. Dietary supplementation to manage stress is widespread despite limited supporting evidence. A systematic review of the available literature was undertaken to investigate the efficacy of specific dietary supplements in managing female stress and anxiety.

OBJECTIVES

To identify the impact of essential fatty acids (EFAs), B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium and/or zinc, consumed as dietary supplements to the daily diet, on female stress and anxiety levels.

INCLUSION CRITERIA TYPES OF PARTICIPANTS

Women aged 18 years and over, who had participated in a study where stress and/or anxiety were assessed.

TYPES OF INTERVENTION(S)

Dietary supplementation with EFAs, B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium and/or zinc.

TYPES OF COMPARATORS

Supplements, either alone or combined, were compared with either no intervention or placebo.

TYPES OF STUDIES

Randomized controlled and pseudo-randomized trials were included.

OUTCOMES

Stress and anxiety were assessed using self-report or physiological outcome measures.

SEARCH STRATEGY

Published and unpublished studies were sought via MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, MedNar, National Institute of Mental Health and the International Association for Women's Mental Health.

METHODOLOGICAL QUALITY

Methodological quality was evaluated using standardized critical appraisal instruments from the Joanna Briggs Institute.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data were extracted using the standardized data extraction instruments from the Joanna Briggs Institute.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Due to heterogeneity of the included studies, narrative synthesis was performed.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies were included in this review. Essential fatty acids were effective in reducing perceived stress and salivary cortisol levels during pregnancy and anxiety in premenstrual women, and anxiety during menopause in the absence of depression, but were ineffective when depression was disregarded. Disregarding the hormonal phase, EFAs were ineffective in reducing stress or anxiety in four groups of women. Combined magnesium and vitamin B6 supplementation reduced premenstrual anxiety but had no effect when used in isolation and did not affect stress in women suffering from dysmenorrhea when combined or used in isolation. Older women experienced anxiety reduction using vitamin B6, but not folate or vitamin B12. High-dose sustained-release vitamin C was effective in reducing anxiety and blood pressure in response to stress.

CONCLUSION

The current review suggests that EFAs may be effective in reducing prenatal stress and salivary cortisol and may reduce anxiety during premenstrual syndrome and during menopause in the absence of depression. Magnesium and vitamin B6 may be effective in combination in reducing premenstrual stress, and vitamin B6 alone may reduce anxiety effectively in older women. High-dose sustained-release vitamin C may reduce anxiety and mitigate increased blood pressure in response to stress.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Essential fatty acids may be effective in reducing prenatal stress and salivary cortisol levels, and premenstrual or menopausal anxiety in the absence of depression. Combining magnesium and vitamin B6 may reduce premenstrual anxiety and vitamin B6 may reduce anxiety in older women. High-dose sustained-release vitamin C may reduce anxiety and mitigate increased blood pressure in response to stress.

IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH

Investigating supplementation in longer term studies is warranted and should include compliance testing, the use of inert substances as controls and reliable outcome measures.

Survival trends for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC): Are improvements only for patients in clinical trials?

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Background: Significant improvements in the outcome for patients with advanced CRC have been achieved. We have reviewed the prospective CRC database at our institution from 1992 to 2004 to explore whether the availability of new chemotherapy drugs (irinotecan & oxaliplatin) and surgical advances has impacted on survival in the normal population. Earlier results had suggested a trend to improved survival (1). Methods: In Australia the first of these drugs became available at the end of 1997 thus we have taken this as the time point to compare outcomes pre and post. Disease-specific survivals were analysed from the date of diagnosis for stage D, and from the date of distant recurrence for stages A, B and C, with a date of censoring of live cases at December 31st, 2004. The Kaplan-Meier product-limit estimate was used for univariate analyses and Cox proportional hazards regression for multivariable analyses. Results: The current analysis is of 744 patients; 92–97 n=313, 98–04 n=431. Survival for the respective time periods were 47.6% and 54.9% 12 mths; 28.0% and 34.8% 24 mths; 18.9% and 23.0% 36 mths; 12.6% and 17.2% 48 mths; and 10.4% and 14.9% 60 mths. Cox proportional hazards regression indicated a lower risk of case fatality for 1998–2004 than 1992–1997 cases (p=0.048) after adjusting for age measured in years. The key predictors of case fatality in a multivariate analysis were found to be period (i.e., 1992–97/1998–04), age, and stage of disease at time of initial diagnosis. While an upward trend in survival was recorded for all ages, it was most pronounced for 70–79 year olds (n=272), where the increase in 24 mth survival was from 21.1% for 1992–97 to 36.1% for 1998–2004 (p=0.015). For patients aged 80 years and over (1992–97 n=40 & 1998–2004 n=67) the 24mth survivals were 18.6% (6.7%) and 26.4% (6.9%) respectively (p>0.200). Conclusions: Clinical trials have shown improvements in survival for highly selected patients. This current analysis confirms an improvement in survival over time for advanced CRC and this is seen in unselected patients including the elderly. Preliminary data has suggested that a number of factors have contributed to the trend of improved survival. Final analysis, including updated chemotherapy trends, will be presented at the meeting. (1) Proc ASCO 2004, #3707

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

A modified cows' milk formula suitable for low birthweight infants

Low birthweight babies fed standard modified cows' milk formulae are at risk from the high fluid intake needed for adequate nutrition, and very preterm babies often develop late hyponatraemia if the sodium intake fails to match large renal losses. A new cows' milk formula (Cow and Gate Prematalac) provides 120 kcal, 3.6 g protein, 7.5 g fat, and 4 mmol sodium in 150 ml. Ten low birthweight babies were fed the new formula at 150 ml/kg a day and compared with 12 similar babies fed a standard modified cows' milk formula (Wyeth SMA Gold Cap) at 180 ml/kg a day. All the babies grew at intrauterine rates and there was no difference in clinical course. None fed the new formula developed hypernatraemia, oedema, or dehydration and none fed the standard formula developed hyponatraemia. The Prematalac group safely excreted the increased osmotic load and had a higher urinary sodium concentration which should protect less mature preterm infants from late hyponatraemia.